Congress vocab words
Cloture
A rule in the Senate that ends a fillibuster
Closed Rule
An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on a debate, forbids bill from being amended on the floor
Continuous Body
1/3 of senate elected every 2 years
Caucus
A group of members of Congress from both houses that share similar characteristics or interests
Casework
Activities of Congress that helps constituents on an individual basis
House Appropriations Committee
Among the most powerful standing committees in the house, all bills must eventually pass through this committee to receive funding
Filibuster
An attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking it to death
Senate Judiciary
Confirms presidential appointments for Supreme Court justices and federal judges
Joint Committee
Congressional Committee on a few subject areas with membership drawn from both houses
Select Committee
Congressional Committees appointed for a specific purpose
Conference Committee
Congressional committees formed when the House and the Senate pass different versions of the same bill to work out the language so that a single bill is formed
Speaker of the House
Constitutionally mandates position. Appointed by the majority person in charge of Congress
Pro Tempore
Leader of Senate in absence of the Vice President
Vice president
Leader of the Senate, gets final vote if votes are tied.
Pork Barreling
Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several different districts or states
Whips
Members of Congress who work with Congressional leaders to help facilitate voting and unity in the party
Committees Chair
Most important influences of the Congressional agenda; they schedule hearings, hire staff, appoint subcommittees
Majority leader
Partisan ally of the speaker, responsible for scheduling bills, placing members on committees, and rounding up votes
Standing Committee
Permanent subject matter committees in both House and Senate
Ways and Means COmmittee
Powerful standing committee in the House. Any bill that impacts revenue must pass through this
17th Amendment
Senate originally appointed by state legislatures, now elected by people
Earmark
Similar to pork-barreling, the delineation of specific funds for specific purposes in a particular district or state
House Rules Committee
Standing committee in the House. All bills must first go to rules. It sets rules for the bill; schedules it on calendar, allots time for debate and if amendments can be added.
Incumbency Advantage
The concept that someone who is currently in office running of re-election has a very good chance of winning in the general election. Includes; Name recognition, record, casework, and Franking privileges.
Gerrymandering
The process of dividing up representatives by a state legislature to achieve a political advantage
Sophomore Surge
When a member is more likely to get re-elected after the first term
Christmas tree bill
a bill that has a lot of riders attached to it
Bi-cameral Legislature
a legislative body that is divided into two houses
Bill
a potential law
Ride
an addition to a bill
Mid-term election
an election that takes place halfway though a president's term in office
Oversight
review, monitor, and supervise federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation
Incumbent
someone who is already in office who is running for re-election
Census
the counting of the total population every 10 years for re-apportionment purposes
reciprocity
the exchanging of favors between members of Congress
Logrolling
the exchanging of political favors, especially the trading of influence or votes among legislators to achieve passage of projects
District
the fixed boundary that a house of representatives represents
quorom
the minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress
Constituency
the people who an elected official represent
Minority leader
the principal leader of the minority party in the house
Apportionment
the process of dividing up the representatives between the states
Single Member Districts
the type of district that we have in the United States, Only one representative is elected from each district